Episode 11
If I remember correctly, it was 1953. We had just moved into the new premises on JM Road, right next to Hindvijay Cinema, as it was then known, later Natraj & to the latest generation, ‘Bhosale-Shinde Arcade’! It is also interesting to note, that in those days, JM Rd used to be deserted by 8, at the most 8:30 pm. The only traffic was the people coming for movies next door, or on to Deccan Cinema, now re-incarnated as KFC! ‘Balgandharva Rangamandir’ came much later. So, after 9 p.m. or so, when the city went to sleep, it’s no exaggeration that we could hear the songs & dialogues too, of the film next door. At times, we would sneak up right behind the rear wall to hear better!
The movie halls in those days, generally had a portico, which served as a meeting place for movie buffs & the upper portion was invariably used to display big cut-outs of the film & posters. One such huge display was for the film “Niagara”, starring Marilyn Monroe (that’s all we remembered then!). Naïve as I was then, I thought the movie was about the river & the falls & nature etc. I had no idea why my pleas to go & see it fell on deaf ears. Co-incidentally, 2 days before we actually went to Buffalo, “Niagara” was screened on the TV. So, TCALSS, last week-end we were at the ‘Best Western’, having taken a hopping flight from here (St. Louis)to Cincinnati, then to Pittsburgh. A 4 hour drive in a spanking new VW, and we were home. Luckily, Denny’s was right next to Hotel, so getting dinner, at that late hour was no big deal.
Next morning, after a hurried b’fast, hurried, because of the urge to be there early, being a Sunday, as also the fact that the Hotel was full of my ‘country cousins’, it was prudent that we made an early exit!! Just for the record, Pennsylvania is a lot of hilly tracts, lots & lots of tree cover and acres of farm land. The drive to Niagara, 10 miles away, was as beautiful as the environs; water bodies (Lake Erie, the Niagara River).
By now, we have become inured to seeing vast parking lots, so this was no exception. Having done our homework , we had zeroed on to seeing ‘The Cave of the Winds’ aka ‘Hurricane Deck’, ‘Luna Island’, ‘Maid of the Mist’, ‘Observation Deck’ and the Lights & Fireworks display, at night, besides of course the ‘Hop on-Hop off’ trolley . At the main entrance, is the history of the falls & the park, the oldest in USA, is lucidly chronicled. The 1st event, required us to collect our ponchos & sandals from the store, free of cost. The sandals, white, blue & green & the yellow capes, are all recycled. We have the choice of taking these home, with a gentle reminder to dispose of them, in the correct manner. The sandals must be weighing about 2 gms!
What a sight! (I can say this any No. of times!!) Waterfalls wherever you looked, Canada, just across, with their arrangements to see the falls,(the best way being from the Ferris Wheel), ‘Maid(s) of the Mist’, were ferrying people from this & the Canadian side and swirling waters everywhere. They have made lovely arrangements comprising a series of ladders & platforms that take you right up to the ‘Bridal Veil’ falls. This is where we got our first taste of the immense beauty & the sheer ruthless power of nature. Of course, conversation was practically non-existent, for obvious reasons! The best part about all the places here, and elsewhere, is that nowhere are you pushed (physically & mentally) or urged to get- on- with- it. You can take your time, do things at your pace.
From the elevator, which took us 350 feet below, we were on level with the waters for the 1st
time.
What a sight! (I can say this any No. of times!!) Waterfalls wherever you looked, Canada, just across, with their arrangements to see the falls,(the best way being from the Ferris Wheel), ‘Maid(s) of the Mist’, were ferrying people from this & the Canadian side and swirling waters everywhere. They have made lovely arrangements comprising a series of ladders & platforms that take you right up to the ‘Bridal Veil’ falls. This is where we got our first taste of the immense beauty & the sheer ruthless power of nature. Of course, conversation was practically non-existent, for obvious reasons! The best part about all the places here, and elsewhere, is that nowhere are you pushed (physically & mentally) or urged to get- on- with- it. You can take your time, do things at your pace.
The trolley is just the thing. One can get on or off, at one’s choice of location. After taking in as much of the falls visually, the fuming sprays battering you, it is time to move on. They have thoughtfully placed containers to receive the ponchos/sandals etc. Back to the top from the same elevator, and we went to the Luna Island. This is basically, a viewing area right next to where the falls cascade below & of course, an ideal place to take photographs. At this time, the Rain Gods decided to play spoil-sport & as though the drenching at the ‘Hurricane Deck’ wasn’t enough, sent down rain by the proverbial buckets. I wonder if this is a convenient arrangement worked out with the Gods above, because, believe it or not, right across is the shopping center & the refreshments stalls. So, into the gift shop for a period of time, that can be best described as never-ending! After a few dollars lighter, it was time to head for the ultimate experience, a ride in ‘The Maid of the Mist’. Originally just one ship, now they have quite a few, on both sides.
Tickets in hand, we were off to the Observation deck, where you had a panoramic view of the falls. But first, the ‘voyage’. An elevator took us a few hundred feet, (again!) below. The attendant was pretty well-versed in the right Hindi phrases & correctly timed too! That’s marketing! Here again, we were issued with ponchos, Blue this time. And after a very patient, no-jostling –for- prize location walk, we were on deck & away. 
The Maid of the Mist, is so named, obviously, as the entire area where the falls cascade, is churned up with the swirling waters that send up columns of spray, so minute that it is like a mist. The grandeur of the American falls, the Horseshoe falls, all hit you hard. This is Nature, in one of her many manifestations, best admired from far & left alone. Of course, there have been many who have tried to walk the tightrope across the falls or shoot the rapids in barrels. But you can’t beat the falls, every time. After what seemed a lifetime (cliche’) , we were back to the Observation Tower, for some more photos. And the Sun came out!
Just for a recap, we have had rain, uncalled for & unwanted, during a lot of our outings. The last time, Orlando had unseasonal rains, NY was a wash-out for half a day, and SFO was windy & wet! This year, Day 2 at Michigan (Windmill Island) was wet, the rain slowed us at Chicago slowed us down & now, an overcast sky on Sunday, when Sat was in the high 80s! You know, in my Regiment, whenever there was a new activity on the cards,(Collective training, firing, inspections etc.) there would be rain, even if it was a small drizzle. This, according the elders, was a good omen, the Gods were blessing us! So, looking at the brighter side of the gloomy day, we took all this in our stride! After all, happiness is a state of the mind!!
A quick tuck-in at the local deli, and we were off on the trolley for a conducted tour of the park & the neighboring areas. We stepped off at the Horseshoe falls, for a closer look, at leisure. An hour later, we were back at the Hotel for a snooze & return to the Falls for dinner & the Lights & Fireworks show. We decided to try out an Indian resto, so Kohinoor was the chosen one. Run by a Bibiji & her Papaji, we ordered the typical fare, which we hoped would match with the original, back home in Barnala! The food was good, except for the oversized chicken legs. The guy taking our orders, was probably a new inductee, because, here I was trying to speak to him in a tongue that he was more familiar with, and the guy would reply in a very cultivated yankee drawl, probably picked up at Shahkot Malsian, Distt Kapurthala!
Anyway, the lights were already on and all this was being done from the Canadian side. Tremendous co-operation! The waters were alternately flooded in Red, Blue, Green, Yellow & White (natural)colours. The accompanying photos will speak a thousand words, I am sure. Then the explosion of Fireworks. Not for more than 15-20 mins, but boy, what a performance!! (A photograph speaks……..!): )
Incidentally, this is one area, where we came across a lot Indian names (Red, that is!). Chippewa (that’s a tribe), Cheektowaga(that’s where we actually stayed) & of course, Onguiaahra, an Iroquois word meaning “Thunder of Waters”, & from which Niagara is derived. Just for the record (prompted by some very ignorant statements by some of my country-cousins, w.r.t. the origin of the falls.) Four Great Lakes empty into the Niagara river that flows over the 2 major falls, i.e. American & Horseshoe Falls, before emptying into Lake Ontario!
Three incidents that made me think again & again. 1st. On the flight from Cincinnati, we were delayed for a good 15 mins, because a family of 8 wanted to be seated together!(forgetting the fact that in any case, only 2 could sit together!) 2nd. On the deck of ‘The Maid…’, I just happened to be next to a group of young men, all from back home (India, that is!). Suddenly I felt someone pushing me and a lady’s voice “requesting” that the child be made to stand at the railing!. I earned an Oscar for the best performance of a deaf & dumb guy!! 3rd. During the Fireworks, a family was behaving as though the falls were in their back yard & all of us were idiots! No signs of moving on. Till I said, “Excuse me..”Had I spoken to him in a language both of us speak, I would still be there!! (‘kay kaka, jara baghu dya, pahilyanda alo ahe’/’kya uncle, 1st time aye hain, dekhne do’!). By now, you must have guessed that all these guys came from the world’s biggest democracy. Some people (cynics) may call me a WOG, but, courtesy to a fellow human-being/traveler/ neighbor/ whatever, is something that is not limited to the so-called ‘developed’ nations.
Is it true that India (Bharat) has/had a number of Firsts to it’s credit, for all the good/right reasons?
Anyway(s?), Niagara has been the crowning experience of our visit this time. I know there’ll be something bigger next time, waiting for us. Till then, hope you enjoy this one. We leave here on 25th Aug. (Believe me, as I typed this [ I can overlook the lake], a small flock of Canada Geese took off, as if symbolizing that we too have to ‘Fly away Home, soon’!)
There’s one more coming your way, just b4 we leave.
Keep smiling, & TC.
Ashok
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